Of Angels and Seagulls

March 21, 2015

Yesterday was our last day of class, but there are still a lot of things to finish. Next week will be the Recognition and Graduation day!

Unfortunately, there would be no moving up exercises for the Kinder class this year, the supervisors had agreed to it. To make our last day in school fun, I decided to give my Kinder class a movie treat since most of them haven't experienced watching in a movie house yet. I thought this would be a great chance to let them have that experience. Our lessons for the last few weeks were about taking care of the community, and The Lorax would be perfect because it has that theme.

Truffula trees everywhere!

I set up the classroom to make it seemed like a movie house and I made a small photo booth for the kids, of course with a little help from friends. When the kids came to the room, they got excited and wanted to watch already! Rules needed to be cleared because kids will be kids.

Me, as Teacher Jill with the Lorax!

Some of the children got confused with the story so I prompted them throughout the movie so the message wouldn't get lost. I'm glad that most of them knew that cutting down trees, plus trashing the communiy aren't right at all.

My morning class!

My afternoon class!

After the movie, we took a photo with the Lorax and watched a slideshow of our class activities. It was fun! I'll miss my first Kinder classes in the public school! :)

March 5, 2015

On the night of our wedding, my then-boyfriend-now-husband gave me a new instrument - a ukulele! I never thought that he'd be able to pull a surprise as such since during our wedding preparation, we're almost always together. Great job! I was sorry that I got no material gift for him that night - but hey, the blessings we had that day were overwhelming and unexpected!

Anyway, I am very glad that I have yet another instrument to know! Well, maybe when I get some free time and the urge to learn, I'll get to know the ukulele. I already scanned the chords for it and it looks easier than the guitar. I haven't fully studied the comparison between guitar and ukulele, and I hope I won't get confused! I hope I'll have the time.

Learning to play instruments has always been a fond experience for me. Back when I was in elementary, I joined the Drum and Lyre club. I remember how good it felt learning to play Twinkle, twinkle little star on my own. I attended afternoon practices with our strict teachers, Kakang Pilo and Kuya Boy. They gave us song pieces to practice at home and in school. When I was in 6th grade, I was assigned for some time to signal and lead the other players when and what to play. It was a happy experience. I was sad when I found out that my lyre was lost. Someone stole it.

I also remember having a harmonica toy (green and white in color, I guess) when I was young. I would blow it as hard as I could while trying to make up a happy birthday tune. It was one of our favorite toys and I don't know what happened to it.

Finally, back in high school, we were taught three basic chords in guitar and piano. With the powerful combination of D, G, and A, we could already play different songs. Well as for me, I learned Leaving on a jetplane in guitar, and As the deer in piano. And when I graduated from high school, my grandfather bought me a guitar in Cebu as his graduation present. It was with that guitar I learned to play! I struggled with fretting notes, basic strumming, and plucking (which I haven't really learned well.) I would look at our old song hits magazines to find songs. My favorite songs to play were Gary Jules' version of Mad World, Marty Casey's Trees, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, Coldplay's The Scientist and Yellow, and of course, The Cranberries' Linger.

My first ever guitar

I tried playing the piano, too. I would spend good number of hours trying to learn a song or two. I think playing the piano was harder. I actually recorded two songs and uploaded them. They were messy records, to be honest, plus I don't have such great voice. One was Cat Power's I Found A Reason, and the other was Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life. Whenever I listen to those records, it's fulfilling to know that I learned them with hard work and patience.

A good friend also gave me a harmonica but I never get to learn it. So now, with our new ukulele, I've been thinking of what to play first since my original choice, that is, Crystal Fighter's At Home seems difficult yet lovely!

Looking at all these musical instruments in our room, I can't help but smile, and realize that music is a big part of my life and it makes me feel alive. And, it feeds my soul. Ah, grateful! I think we can make a room for a drum set next time! Haha

March 3, 2015

I am somehow thankful for days that do not have something grand happening in it. Not so sad and not so happy, just typical.

When he (Michael) left again for abroad, I think my mind has been trying to adapt again to this long distance kind of relationship. Since my mind is already familiar to these kind of experiences, I'm still doing fine. And my schedule was back to teaching on weekdays, prayer meeting on Saturdays, and maybe going out somewhere on some weekends. Nothing so great happening. And it's OK.

I remember that oftentimes, when something so good is going to happen, something bad also comes along the way. I can't remember all those times but certainly, I am on the lookout for something bad (sort of anticipating) when I am so happy. Like what happened two days before our wedding. At that time, I was thinking 'that bad thing' could have happened maybe two months before, a month or even a week before, but two days right before our special day was too much. I cried with Michael because of that, and that made me appreciate him even more. I saw my mom cried at that time too, but there's nothing I could do. It happened, so just let the tears flow and the aches pass.

I know time will come that I will forget what actually happened on that day. Good thing that I did not act on impulse or I might have backed out on our wedding because of too heavy feelings I had that day. And that would be miserable. Hehe.

Anyway, I've got plans to live with Michael soon, that is, I'll fly to where he's working and see where else it will take us. We are praying for it! Anyway, cheers to ordinary days when we can just breathe every thing all in, and breathe them all out :)

February 18, 2015

It's funny how a lot of people can relate to the romantic-comedy film "That Thing Called Tadhana," as if heartbreaks are universal. Isn't it?

The story is about two strangers who met and embarked on an adventure based on impulsive decisions while talking about and relating their lives and lost love. The film was packed with conversations, so natural and simple. The use of swear words of Mace and Anthony (the characters in the film) made the conversations more appealing and honest. I guess people might have identified themselves in the characters because of this. And, it was not usual to watch a film that hit the mainstream cinemas with such use of profanity. A lot have been quoting lines from the film with funny hashtags. It's no wonder though because Ms. Antoinette Jadaone, the film director, won various awards for best screenplay.

The film also reminds me of Richard Linklater's Before Trilogy, it's just more relaxed and funny.

When you love and you have invested time, effort, commitment, and whatever on that love, it becomes a part of you, of your system. And when that love begins to move away from you or when something went wrong, the more you long for that love and your mind tries to find it, only to get an Error 404 in return, that's the time emptiness and sadness creep in. Thus, a heartbreak.

I don't know where broken hearts go but I do believe that it may take time, a new hobby, a new environment for them to find their way home. I knew some friends whose hearts are still healing and trying to get over their past relationships. It takes time.

A scene from 'That Thing Called Tadhana'

I used to imagine that having a heartbreak from relationships that did not work quite well would be a good experience. You know, the experience might make me stronger besides the pain. I used to think that maybe, I'd like to have one good heartbreak before finally meeting the one. But it did not happen, because I met the one soon enough. (And that's the reason why I cannot relate much to the characters in the film Tadhana.) We get pretty heartaches from our relationship - heartaches that won't cause us to move away from each other, instead, those cause us to choose each other no matter what, every time. Because that's real love, choosing one another even when there are ifs and buts.

I recommend the film to those who want to laugh and to believe in the power of tadhana, and please watch it in theatres instead of downloading it! Show your support to our local filmmakers. :)

January 19, 2015

There were times that I had hurt you when we have petty or big arguments. Sometimes unknowingly, sometimes not. But then you must have realized that you could not always win against me. You are always the one who understands. You are always the one who gives in so I can finally shut up. I sometimes apologize for those times I've been selfish, and you forgive me because you know me too well by now. How grateful I am for having you.

"I can be the moodiest baby and you've never met anyone who is as negative as I am sometimes."

I can be easily turned off by unpleasant situations. I hate change of plans, if there were any. You easily feel when I don't feel good anymore, when I don't like certain things. It's like you have a mood radar made for me, and you sometimes know what to do exactly. But sometimes, you're clueless. It's alright, because I sometimes don't know what to do with myself either. I love how your words affect me like no other, like those times when you told me over and over that what I have done was nice because you know how much I worry. When I thought my plans have failed, you are the assurance that I need to calm me down. Oh, how grateful I am to be with you.

"You see everything, you see every part"

Almost one month with you as your wife, life has been blissful. We discover a lot about ourselves and I bet there are still more to know, you from me, and I from you. You are written in my thoughts, in my system, in my expressions, in my works. I love how we mature each day, how we like our childish ways, how we understand each other when others won't. I love you for sticking around, for seeing your face when I wake up, for all the love without conditions. Oh, how grateful I am for taking you as my partner.

"You see all my light, and you love my dark.

You dig everything of which I'm ashamed,

There's not anything to which you can't relate"

You are my greatest fan. And, I am yours. You took the time and effort to understand the things that I do. Your patience with me is incomparable. You understand how hard-headed I can get, how I turn away easily. You believe in my strength. You help me make my dreams, as if they are yours, too. You hope for me, and I love that about you. You simply accept me for all that I am, from best to worst that I can get. Oh, how grateful I am to have found you.

"And you're still here."

We have been through a lot, and there are more adventures in store for us as husband and wife. I thank you for all your love, in all its forms. I thank you for staying with me no matter what. I thank you for instilling hope and faith in me. I love you! Let's claim our plans and make exciting dreams! <3